This is a great way to recycle old greeting cards and make little boxes for small gifts (or for storing small objects). This box is different from an origami box because it includes a top and a bottom. It requires only a few simple tools and supplies, and the result is charming and eco-friendly. Click any image to enlarge it.
Steps
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Gather your supplies and tools, listed below.
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Cut the card in half along the fold. The easiest way to make the top fit over the bottom is to make sure both halves of the card are the same size, so you may have to trim a little. You will use the colorful front of the card as the box lid.
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Decide how tall you want your box to be. This may depend on the design on the front of the card, or on how big the item is that you want to enclose. This demonstration uses 1 inch (25mm) for the top, and 1 and 1/16 (27mm) for the bottom. Add a little to the measurement for the bottom, so the top will fit over it.
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Draw a square in each corner of the top and bottom of the card, the size of your measurements. You can mark just the corners, making a square so you can see where to cut.
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Score the card all the way along all four sides, using the squares to give you the distance from the edge.
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Cut along the score line from the edge to the next, perpendicular score line in each corner, but do so for only one side of the square you drew. Leave one side of the box uncut to make a tab. Do this for all four corners of the card.
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Fold the sides up, and fold the tabs in.
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Glue each tab and paper clip it into place until it dries.
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Repeat the marking and scoring for the other half of the box.
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When your box is dry, place your gift or other small objects inside.
Tips
- To score the card, take your dead pen or other instrument and draw along the ruler from edge to edge on the paper, pressing down hard enough to mark the paper but not hard enough to cut through.
- If you have trouble getting glue to stick to the glossy surface of a greeting card, help it out with a little tape on the inside. Or use an emery board or small piece of fine sanding paper to very lightly rough up the paper to take the glue better.
- If you need boxes a little larger use poster board, colored card stock or any other heavy weight paper with the directions for constructing the boxes the size you need.
- It is important to add a little to the measurement for the bottom, so the top will fit over it.
- Greeting cards are available for all sorts of occasions. Use a greeting card that suits your occasion.
- Reuse is a great way to recycle.
- Alternate the way the tabs fold on the top and bottom, so they fit together a little better.
Warnings
- Be careful with the compass, if you're using an old metal version with a sharp point.
- Use scissors and other cutters with care.
Things You'll Need
- a greeting card
- a ruler
- a pencil
- a pair of scissors
- something to "score" the card stock (the point of a compass, an old ballpoint pen that is out of ink works perfectly, as does the tine of a fork, a butter knife, or a small-gauge knitting needle)
- glue
- paper clips
